When a birth family requests access to records, what steps must be followed?

• A. Verify identity, determine permissible disclosures, and provide records in accordance with privacy laws and DFPS guidelines.
• B. Automatically grant access.
• C. Provide records without verification.
• D. Release confidential records publicly.

Answer: (A)

Protecting privacy and following legal requirements is the core idea here. Before any birth family records are released, staff must first verify the requester’s identity to ensure someone asking for information is who they claim to be and has legitimate access. Next, they determine what disclosures are permissible under privacy laws and the agency’s guidelines—this means checking whether the request is authorized, whether consent from the appropriate parties is required, and what information can be shared or must be redacted. Finally, they provide the records in a way that complies with those laws and DFPS policy, sharing only the information allowed and through the approved process.

This careful sequence prevents unauthorized access and protects confidential or sensitive information. Automatically granting access, providing records without proper verification, or releasing confidential material publicly would violate privacy protections and agency rules, potentially harming the child, birth family, and the agency's compliance status.